“When Jesus
Saw their faith,
He said.
‘Friend!
Your sins
Are forgiven you!’”
καὶ ἰδὼν τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν εἶπεν Ἄνθρωπε, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου.
Luke said that when Jesus saw their faith (καὶ ἰδὼν τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν), he said to him (εἶπεν), calling him friend or man (Ἄνθρωπε), that his sins were forgiven (ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου). This is almost word for word like Mark, chapter 2:5, and Matthew, chapter 9:2, so that Mark might be the source of this saying. Mark said that Jesus noticed their faith. He then said to the paralytic that his sins were forgiven or taken away. The idea that sickness and sin had a common connection was prevalent. In fact, Jesus called this paralyzed man son in Mark and Matthew, but Luke called him man or friend, not son. Matthew said that Jesus, noticing their faith, then told the paralytic to have courage, because his sins were forgiven. Faith and healing seemed to go hand in hand.